Shock-absorbing device.



" No. 874,767. PATENTES 1136.2@ 1907.,

' G. s. HILL.

SHK BSGRBING DEVIGE.

PPLIOATION FILED MAR. 5. 1906.

GEORGE S. HILL, OF BRADFORD, MASSACHUSETTS.

SHOCK-ABSORBING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dee. 24.-, 1907'.

Application tiled March 5.1906- Serial No. 304,155.

,frictionally and is adapted to permit the springs of'. the vehicles to yield when anobstruction is encountered, butwill check the movement which the sprin s, in recovering their normal condition, wou d tend to give to the vehicle body. f

The invention consists in a drum and a relatively rotatable flexible strap therefor constituting frictional members, one of which is adapted to be attached to the vehicle body and the other to a truck, an axle, a wheel frame or other supporting base. for the vehicle, and these members being adapted to diminish the power of their iirictional engagement when moved in one direction and to increase the same when moved in the other. v

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, Where- 111,-

Figure 1 represents a side view of such an embodiment applied to the vehicle. Fig. 2 represents a similar view partly in section and on an enlarged sca'le. Fig. 3 represents a cross section on the line 3.-3 of Fig. 2.

Like references represent the same' parts in all of the figures.

Referring to the drawings, the device embodying the present inventionis shown as applied te an automobile, the letter e designatin one of the side bars of the frame or chassis of the automobile.

tends a strap g, to which strap is connectedV an arm h extending radiali from the eriphery of the drum and to t e end of which is pivoted a--link t'. The drum is adapted to rbe connected to one ol' the relatively movable parts of the vehicle and an end of the linlr to be connected to another of such parts.

In the arrangement shown, the drum is attachcd to the bar c forming part of the vehicle body by bolts j, while one end of the linlr i is pivoted to the central part of the spring where it is rigidly connected. to the base or road support of the vehicle.

The strap g extends `from the point le at which it is joined to the arin h about the greater' portion ol2 the periphery el the drum, and at its free end is slotted and tapped to receive a threaded bolt i which is adjustably screwed into'the tapped space between the tongues'm ofk the strap end and clamped in place by a screw n `which may draw the tongues together'. The bolt i extends through a hole 0 in the arm h, end, upon its outer end, has a head p serving as an abutment forv a spring g which surrounds the bolt and bears at one end against the upper surface of arm 7L. Externally the bolt head has a threaded portion p upon which is placed a sleeve r having an internal thread whereby it may be adjusted relatively to arni 7L. A lock nut .su screwed int-o the outer end of the sleeve 1* and ears against bolt h. ad p so as te jam the threads oi the'sleeve tig" the part paud prevent t: sleeve jarring loose.

lt will be evident linnn the description above given., that the spring g, being under compression, presses against the abutment p, tending te draw the bolt lthrough erin fr and thereby bind the strap tightlyebout the periphery of the drum. By adjusting-the threaded portion of the bolt in the end ol' the strap between the tongues m, the torce with which the spring acts to tightenl the band against the drum may be regulated. 'lf a sudden im ulse in an upward direction is applied to tie end ofthe arm, the latter is raised against the spring g and compresses the same before the spring has had time to overcome the inertia ef the bolt Z, stop r and strap and accordingl the distance between the adje-cent ends o the strap is increased and the latter is loosened about the drum; thereupon relative movement between the drum and arm or strap is permitted in one direction with, but little or no frictional resistance from the stra Gn the other hand, it the arin h is move downward, the tendency is te bind the strap more tightliT than usual upon the drum so vthat the iirictiorial ance to relative movement is much increased.

ntly against those et' The value of these characteristics as applied to vehicles consists in the following: i the drum is connected tothe vehicle body while the end Qt the` arm is connected through link i with the rigid base of the vehicle, from which the body is kept separated by the springs, relative movement is produced whenever the wheels of the vehicle strike an obstruction. arm h is suddenly elevated while the inertia of the body holds the latter in substantially the same position, the springs however being distorted. This produces an upward movement of the arm about the drum to which there is opposed but little frictional resistance on account of the loosening of the strap. When, however, the springs becoming restored to their normal shape, overcome the inertia of the Wagon body and cause the latter to rebound, the drum is elevated and a relative downward movement of the arm 71, is produced. This causes the strap to be tightened and the friction thereof to be increased and thus recovery of the springs is caused to take place much more slowly than their distortion. Accordingly there is very little tendency for oscillations to be set up and the wagon body is brought to a position of relative rest quickly and with complete absence 3 0 of jouncing.

rl`he tubular stop l1" is adjusted `to limit the amount by which the spring q is compressed and so limit the amount of loosening of the strap. The adjustment is preferably made such as to allow sufficient loosening of the strap but not to permit so great loosening as to require any appreciable time to'overcome it on the return motion of the arm.

ln order to prevent the stra and drum 40 .from sticking together, l provi e means for lubricating the same as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. This means consists of a cup t naving a tubular stem t threaded, into a recess in the center of the drum. Armsu radiate from the center to the periphery of the drum and have channels u opening into the central recesses. When lubricant is placed in the cup and crowded through the same, it is forced through the recesses and passages u to the periphery of the disk. In order to retain the strap upon the drum,'.l provide an integral flange v adjacent with the face thereof and a detachable annuls w having a flange w which is screwed upon the other face of the drum.

have shown the strap g as extendin almost around the entire circumference o the drum, but I do not desire to limit myself to .such a construction, since -a less length of strap may be provided. All that is necessaryis that the strap should extend somen thing more than one-half wav round the drum. lt is also not essential that the drum should be fastened to the Wagon body and the arm h linked to the rigid support, since l/Vhenever a wheel rises, the

this arrangement can be reversed Without altering the principle of the invention or manner of operation.

' What I claim is,- i A l. A shock absorber for vehicles, coniprising a drum and a band engaging the same, constituting coperating frictional members, one of which is attached to the spring supported body of the vehicle and the other to the supporting vbase, said members being constructed and arranged to loosen the band when the body and base a proach each other and to tighten. the ban when they sepa rate, and adjustable means for limiting thc loosening movement of said band.

2. A shock absorber for vehicles, comprising a drum, the periphery of the drum, the drum an strap being attached respectively to different relatively movable parts of a vehicle, and arranged so that relative movement of said parts in one direction may loosen the strap and in the other may tighten the strap, to check such motion, and adjustable means for limiting the loosening movement of said strap. 5

3. A shock absorber for vehicles, comprising a drum, a strap frictionally engaging the periphery of the drum, the drum an( strap being attached respectively to dili'erent relatively movable parts oi a vehicle, and being rotatable to each other when movement between said parts occurs, being also constructed so that relative movement of said parts in oneI strao and in the other may tifhten the strap, to c ieck such motion, and adjustable means for limiting the loosening movement of said strap.

4'. Ay shock absorber for vehicles, comprising a drum, a flexible strap, yielding means tending to hold said strap in frictional engagement with the drum, the latter being mounted on one of the relatively movable parts of the vehicle, and means on another of such parts connected to the strap, arranged to loosen the saine against the ten sion of the yielding means when movement between the parts in one direction occurs, and to permit tightening of the strap rrr-ing movement in the opposite direction check such movement, and adjustable means for limiting the loosening movement of said band.

5. A shock absorber for vehicles, com prising a drum, a flexible strap, yielding means tending to hold said strap in trictional engagement with the drum, the latter being mounted on one of the relatively movable parts ot' the vehicle; means on another of such parts connected to the strap, arranged to loosen the same aeainst the tension of the yielding means when movement between the parts in one direction occurs, and to permit tightening of the strap during direction may loosen 'the movement in theopposite direction to check such movement; and a stop limiting the movement of the yielding means. i

A shock absorber, comprising a drum, a strapiepgaging the periphery thereof, an arm secured to the strap, and yielding means holding the strap against the drum, the arm and drum being relatively rotatable and ar-v ranged, when moved in oneI direction, to overcome said yielding means and loosen the strap, and, when moved in the-other d rection, to release the yielding means and allow the strap to tighten, whereby the frictional resistance to said movements is varied, and a stop' for limiting the loosening movement of said strap.

engaging the perip 7. A shock absorben' comprising a drum, a rigid arm, a stra connected thereto and eryof the drum, and a spring engaging t e karm and strap, tending to bind the-latter about the, drum, and arranged so that, its tension' is overcome and the strap loosened when the arm is moved in one direction about the drum, and adjustable means for limiting the loosening movement of said strap.

8. 'A shock absorber,y comprising adrum, a rigid arm, a strap connected thereto' and engaging the periphery of lthe drum, and a spring connected to the arm and' strap ond, tending to draiv them together to bind the strap about the drum, said spring being adapted ,to yield and loosen the strap when the arm is moved suddenly in one direction about the drum.,' and an adjustable stop ada ted to limit the yielding movement of s ring.

shock absorber, comprising a drum, a rigid arm, a strap connected thereto and` sai engaging the periphery of the drum; a spring enne? connected to the arm and strap end tending to draw them together to bind the strap about the drinnl said spring being adapt to yield and loosen the strap Wfhen the arm is moved' suddenly in one direction about the drum; and a stop connected to the strap end in the ath of the arm limiting the lcapacity for vie ding of the s ring. t

' 10. A shock absor er, comprising a drum, a strap surrounding a portion of the periphery of the drum, and means Within. the circumlference of the drum for containing and forcing lubricant to the periphery thereof'. 11. A shock absor er complrising a drum, an arm, fa strap connected t creto and engaging the-periphery of the drum, a sprn engaging the arm and the strap and arrange so that its tension is overcome and the strap loosened when the arm`is moved in one d1- rectio'n labout the drum, and an adjustable sto 'surrounding 'said spring adapted to limit the loosening movement oi said strap.

12. A shock absorber comprising a drum, an arm provided with an opening, a bolt il adapted to be passed through said opening, pa strap'engaging the periphery of the drum and having one of its ends connected'to said arm and its other endA connected to the lower portion of said bolt1 asprinv eo'iled around lthe upper part Loisaid bo t' and bearing against said arm, and a tubular stop adjustably mounted on said bolt and adapted to liinitthe strap-looseningV movement of said arm. Y

In testimony whereof I have ailixed'niy l signature, in presenceof two Witnesses.

i GEORGE S. HILL. Witnesses:

A C. RATIGAN, ARTHUR. H. BROWN 

